Making Resolutions for the New Year

Making Resolutions for the New Year

17, March, 2025

Episode 245: Making Resolutions for The New Year

In this podcast, we look into setting resolutions for the New Year, and should we even bother setting resolutions?

New Year's Resolutions

Welcome back to English-Podcasts In this episode we examine the good and the bad of setting resolutions for the New Year. Is it of any use? Did you know that 93% of all resolutions made on 31 December are abandoned just a week or two later?

Notes

Whether or not to set New Year’s resolutions depends on your mindset, personal goals, and what works best for you. Here’s a breakdown to help decide:

Reasons to Set Resolutions:

  1. Fresh Start Effect: The new year feels like a clean slate, which can motivate you to pursue goals.
  2. Reflection and Growth: Resolutions can help you evaluate your past year and set intentions for growth.
  3. Structure: Setting goals gives you direction and a framework for self-improvement.
  4. Accountability: Declaring a resolution often makes people more committed to their goals.

Challenges with Resolutions:

  1. Unrealistic Expectations: If goals are too lofty, it can lead to frustration and burnout.
  2. Pressure and Guilt: Not achieving resolutions can cause feelings of failure.
  3. Short-Term Mindset: Many resolutions fade by February because they lack a long-term plan.
  4. External Influence: Resolutions driven by societal pressure rather than personal desire often lack meaning.

Recap & Takeaways

Alternatives to Resolutions:

  1. Set Intentions: Focus on a word or theme for the year (e.g., “balance” or “growth”) rather than rigid goals.
  2. Break It Down: Set small, achievable goals throughout the year instead of one big resolution.
  3. Reflect Regularly: Monthly or quarterly reviews can help you adjust goals as life changes.
  4. Celebrate Progress: Focus on the process and celebrate small wins along the way.

Ultimately, if resolutions inspire and motivate you, go for it! If they feel overwhelming, there are other ways to reflect and grow without the pressure. What’s your take—do you set resolutions, or do you prefer another approach?

Stay Tuned For Our Latest Episodes

Subscribe to our Facebook group and page, our Youtube channel and to our Instagram to get all the latest podcasts, quizzes and blog posts.

What do you remember about 2024?

What do you remember about 2024?

Did 2024 pass in a blur for you or were there events which stood out for you? Maybe the Paris Olympics, maybe the US election, maybe cultural events,  We have it all in our End of Year Quiz, which is not only a great way to jog your memory,  but it’s also a fantastic way to review vocabulary covering a wide range of topics. Let’s not forget grammar either, this is a great way to hone your knowledge of forming questions in the past tense.

If you are learning in a class, why not make up your own quizzes about people in the group. That would be fun !!

Let us know if we missed anything you think is important.

 

What do you remember about 2024?

1 / 20

1. The star of the Paris Olympics was Léon Marchand winning the most medals of any competitor in the Games. How many medals did he win?

2 / 20

2. Keeping on the theme of the Paris Olympics, these cute creatures were the mascots of the Games. They were called a Phryge. What did they represent?

 

3 / 20

3. Who did US President Joe Biden pardon ?

4 / 20

4. Which group popular in the 1990s reunited in 2024 promising a concert tour in 2025?

5 / 20

5. The Word of the Year according to the Collins dictionary was Brat. What does it mean in the new context?

6 / 20

6. Canada pushed the ban on smoking to another level. What measure did they pass?

7 / 20

7. Keeping on the topic of bans for health reasons, both physical and mental. What was banned in New South Wales, Australia? This measure may well snowball into a global ban in 2025.

8 / 20

8. The Notre Dame Catheral reopened in time for Christmas 2024 after 5 years of reconstruction following a devastating fire. How much did the whole restoration cost, much of the money being donated.

9 / 20

9. Still in France, our home, how many Prime Ministers did France have in 2024?

25 Off The Wall Facts about France

10 / 20

10. Showbiz: The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super bowl this year agains the San Francisco 49ers Who was the most famous spectator with cameras focused on them sometimes more than the match itself?

11 / 20

11. This year has seen over 300 million people go to the polls in many countries. Which country from the list below did NOT have an election?

UK Election Quiz - for those who have wondered what it is all about

12 / 20

12. In football, which country won the Euro football Cup?

13 / 20

13. Which tennis star retired in 2024 and all his rivals cried their eyes out?

14 / 20

14. Are you interested in the environment? In which country was the COP 29 held?

How man is ruining the environment

15 / 20

15. Elon Musk made many headlines in 2024, but perhaps his most interesting one was a world first after part of the rocket Starship was returned safely to the launch pad, thereby paving the way for a reusable rocket. What are the arms of the  "catching" structure known as?

16 / 20

16. Which film achieved the highest global box office sales in 2024?

17 / 20

17. We all experienced a gigantic I.T. outage in July which created chaos at airports, hospitals, supermarkets and businesses around the world. But what actually caused it?

18 / 20

18. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ran for president in this year’s US election, said he once had what in his brain?

19 / 20

19. Breaking, formally known as break dancing, was introduced in the 2024 Olympics in an attempt to include more contemporary sports. However one of the competitor's performance  went viral for which reason?

20 / 20

20. In December the travel guide Lonely Planet said which city will be THE city to visit in 2025?

Planning a holiday getaway

Your score is

0%

Discover The Christmas Market in Toulouse, France

Discover The Christmas Market in Toulouse, France

17, March, 2025

Episode 241: Discover The Christmas Market in Toulouse, France

In this Vodcast, we visit and discover what is in store at The Christmas market, as we do every year. Sue, who is a huge fan of Christmas continues her mission to get Chris into the Christmas spirit.

Welcome back to English-Podcasts In this episode we get out and about with our video camera to discover the food and drink of the Christmas season in the centre of Toulouse, France. Will Sue be able to ‘sell’ Christmas to Chris, who is not 100% convinced?

Notes

Join us in the bustling centre of Toulouse on an unusually cold evening.

See the stalls and produce that is on sale, some of it quite original and others that are the stalwarts of the Christmas Market.

We discover some the unique and the traditional, along with the things that seem a little off-the-wall for the Christmas season.

One thing is for sure, love it hate it, The Christmas Market is certainly a lively and a very friendly place to go.

Recap & Takeaways

Packed with vocabulary about the Christmas season, along with lots of expressions to describe the tastes and sensations about food and drink.

Once again we visit the growing Christmas market in the centre of the beautiful city of Toulouse to soak up the Christmas spirit.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more cultural explorations!

Voice message

Stay Tuned For Our Latest Episodes

Subscribe to our Facebook group and page, our Youtube channel and to our Instagram to get all the latest podcasts, quizzes and blog posts.

The history of reggae music

The history of reggae music

17, March, 2025

Episode 206: The history of reggae music

Reggae music is one of the most recognisable and popular genres of music in the world, but where does it come from and what are the origins of reggae music?

In this short, potted history of reggae music we take you through the birth of reggae music in The Carribean from it’s beginnings in Manto and Calypso music to the various genres and rebirths of the reggae music we know today.

 

Notes

We all know reggae music, one of the most recogniseable music genres on the planet, but did you know that reggae’s roots are in the music of African slaves?

That the first well known reggae song came from a film?

That there are at least seven different genres or styles of reggae?

Listen in to find out more.

 

Recap & Takeaways

Learn about how reggae formed from a blend of Mento and Calypso music into the forms of reggae we listen to today.

Bob Marley is one of the most famous reggae stars, but he died at the young age of 36, which did nothing for his influence on worldwide music.

Stay Tuned For Our Latest Episodes

Subscribe to our Facebook group and page, our Youtube channel and to our Instagram to get all the latest podcasts, quizzes and blog posts.

Christmas, Red Bikini and BBQ

Christmas, Red Bikini and BBQ

17, March, 2025

Episode 205: Christmas, Red Bikini and BBQ

Do you dream of Christmas sitting by a log fire, or by a beautiful sunny beach ? Listen to this podcast to get both sides of the story. 

Australia is known for it’s informal lifestyle and Christmas is no different. So, how does this sound to you…. Christmas on the beach with a red Santa hat, a beer and a barbecue? Well, this is how people in Sydney, Australia celebrate Christmas Day. They don’t have snow or fireside drinks but they make up for it with the typical Aussie party spirit. Listen to the podcast to find out more. The podcast was recorded via Zoom, so the sound is not always stable.

 

Notes

But even though Christmas  is a special holiday and a precious time spent with friends and family for many. Most of us spend Christmas hoping for snow and wearing ugly Chritmas jumpers, in Sydney they trade that for red bikinis and trunks. 

Would you miss your Christmas turkey ? In Sydney, they don’t ! Let us know in the comments what your Holiday lunch is, you can even leave us your recipes.

Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays

 

Recap & Takeaways

Listen out for these words:

It’s packed  – I’ve scrapped the Christmas tree  – I miss the food (grammar construction)

To get a feel for Bondi Christmas Day check out this popular TV show, Bondi Rescue. Real Aussi fun and a real Aussi accent ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM3qegyZHys

Stay Tuned For Our Latest Episodes

Subscribe to our Facebook group and page, our Youtube channel and to our Instagram to get all the latest podcasts, quizzes and blog posts.

How well do you remember 2023?

How well do you remember 2023?

What were you doing in 2023? Can you remember some of the events that made an impact in the world?

Test your memory and your vocabulary with this quiz.

If you are a language learner, this quiz is a great way to practice the past tense.

From the team at english-podcasts.com we wish you a happy and successful 2024.  

How well do you remember 2023?

 

English Podcasts

Pin It on Pinterest